A bill to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure with respect to the examination of prospective jurors.
Civil Voir Dire Demonstration Act of 1990 - Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to conduct a four-year demonstration program under which four district courts adopt and follow a local rule which requires the court, at the request of the plaintiff or defendant (and except upon an affirmative finding by the court that the interests of justice require otherwise), to permit the plaintiff and defendant or their attorneys each a minimum of 30 minutes to conduct an oral examination of the prospective jury. Specifies that such rule shall: (1) allow additional time for examination by the attorneys at the court's discretion; (2) allow the court to conduct its own examination and impose reasonable limitations with respect to the questions allowed during such voir dire examination; and (3) limit each side, in cases where there are multiple parties, to an additional ten minutes for each additional defendant, provided that the total time required does not exceed one hour per side. Makes decisions made by a court under such rule non-reviewable except for an abuse of discretion.
Directs the Judicial Conference to study and report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the results of such demonstration program.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice.
Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-482.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 101-482.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 892.
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